Adjustable roller conveyer



a 18 1927 P. H. YORK ADJUSTABLE ROLLER CONVEYER Filed August 7, 1925 2 sheets-sheer 1 mw FSW ,m n 4 L FQ Mw m E 0 QQ W. w ,L .n :l It A A N |w\.\ 1- a QN H f m a, I s

Jan. 18,'1927. 1,614,816

P. H. YORK ADJUSTABLE ROLLER GONVEYER vFiled August 7. 1925. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'INVENTOR A TTORNE Y.

l Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

rnINnAs n. Yoan, or sournronr, INDIANA, AssIeNoR ro LOGAN co., A courontLIoN.

ADJUSTABLE ROLLER CONVEYER.

Application led August 7, 1.925. Serial No. 48,761.

This invention relates to conveyers, and especially to an improved adjustable rollercolrveyer. The invention is useful in both power-driven conveyers, and gravity-driven conveyors of the type in which all the loadcarrying rollers are in frictional engagement with a belt which controls their rate of rotary movement.

One object of the invention is to provide an adjustable means to hold the belt in an belt is power-driven or gravity-driven; that' is, Whethei` the belt is driven by power other than the load carried on the conveyor, or by gravity in consequence of the series of loadcarrying rollers being inclined at the part whereon the -load is supported. n A further object isto provide simple, convenient and eifective means to adjust the sub n rollers upward and downward independently of one another, so, by adjusting one upward, and a second one downward, this second one is relieved of duty by the upwardly ad- 'usted one which combines with the others in ti'ghtening the belt and holding it tight or tense, thus permitting the lowered roller to be removed and replaced by a new one, without stopping the, conveyer or detrimentally affecting its` operation.

A very important object of this invention is to rovide an improved and comparatively simp e and convenient bearing-hanger that is adjustable for moving the bearing in all directions laterally of its journals axis, and is effective for securely holding the contiguous journal of the correlated belt-supporting roller in its various adjustments, whereby the belt can be trained to travel in. a central or other desired relation with respect to the ends of the rollers.

Another veryimportant object is to pro `vide bearings and bearing-hangers for adjusting the sub-belt rollers, not only to press and 'increase pressure against the belt; but alsoindependently adjustable to entirely eliminate pressure of a predetermined set or group of the sub-belt rollers against the belt,

while another group of these sub-belt rollers maintain their pressure, whereby live groups and dead groupsare provided in the same series of sub-belt rollers.

Another object is to provide an improved conveyer of the type mentioned and which includes a deliveringsection and a returning section in a unitary structure that is adjustable to different inclinations about the axis of its driving or retarding wheel.

Another object is to provide 'an improved conveyor of this type that can be constructed in various forms, from various structural materials, and have various adjusting means according to the locations and accessibilities of the respective conveyers when installed for use.

Other objects and important features are pointed out or applied in the following details of description, in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows, in longitudinal vertical interlapped with the upper and lower ends of the end beams;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmental, vertical sectional view, the section being taken in the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmental vertical sectional view o'r' a modification of the invention;

Figurefl is a fragmental vertical sectional viewpf another modification of the invention' Figure 5 is a f'ragmental4 view offanother modification of the invention, part in side elevation, and partly in longitudineI vertical section;

Figure 6 is a fragmental, vertical sectionall view along the lines 6-1-6, 6-6, of Figure 5;

Figure tion, along the line 7--7 of Figure 8, the

.same part being partly hidden in Figure 6;

'8, with the addition ofa spring-seat and a is a detail view, in .vertical secspring therein tor automatically adjusting the bearing, that is yieldingly pressing it upward so it automatically tensions the' belto Referring to these' drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters correspond to similar parts throughout the several views: 1t Will be seen that each form of conveyer includes a main frame, a driving or driven belt, a series ot article-carrying rollers on the belt, a series of belt-carrying rollers under the belt, and means to adjust one series of the rollers laterally ot the belt or towards and from theother seriesv of rollers. For convenience of description, the form shown in Figures 1 and 2 Will hereinafter be referred to as form Af; that ot Figures`3 and 4, form B and form C respectively; and that of Figures 5,-6, Y and 8, form D.-

Each of the main trames (1A, 1B, 1C and 1D) comprises a pair of side members or beams, la, 1b, 1'c and 1a, secured in iiXed spaced relation to one another by crossbeams (1w, lbb, 1cc and ldd), The carrying rollers of each of the forms are indicated at 3a, 3", 3c, and 3d respectively, as they vary` member (5c) having a screw-threaded endA (9c) provided with adjusting and securing nuts (10c). The parts 9c extend through apertured supporting brackets (10%), and the axles lic/extend through vertical guiding slots (11C) of the side bars 1. These side bars are each preferably formedby uniting two angle-bars as shown.

In forms A, B and D, the axles of the beltsupporting rollers are vertically adjustable by manual means, that' is, by screw-threaded means shown at 14a, 14:", and 14d. Guiding slots (15.L and 15d) are provided for receiving the ends of the axles 13a and 13d respectively, and preventing horizontal .movement thereof while guiding themiii their vertical movements. rlhe adjusting means (11th) of torni B includes a bearingbloclr. (141m) which extends through an open-v ing in va guiding member (151') "llelterring now td-form D, it will he i.. j the axles 13d have their ends near ng-bloclrs (15M) whose bca;i partly through there, so the aeiaeie are closed and prevent arial movement et the axles, thus eliminating the necessity of boring or 'threading the ales for receiving cotter-lreys, nuts or other securing means. These bearing-blocks, as shown, are adjust- .ably mounted in bearing hangers "that are adjustable mounted, the bearings are annularly grooved to receive the upright guides (115m) at opposite sides of the respective slots 15d. At the upper ends of these guides are provided horizontal apertured ears (1512) that are bolted or otherwise removably and adjustably secured to the side can be adjusted by loosening the bolts that hold them, the-n sliding them laterally ot the bolts. By tightening the bolts these bearing-liangers are held in their proper adjustment for training the belt as desired. At the lowerends ot the guides 1511 are provided screw-threaded vertical bores, respectively, in which the respective screwthreaded adjusting members 14d are seated. Fach of the screw-threaded adjusting members may be provided with a lock-nut, to hold it in its different adjustments.

Referring again to form A (Figure l): A driving or retarding pulley (16a) mounted on a driving or retarding axle (17a) which may be connected either to any appropriate form ot motor or prime mover, or to any appropriate form ot governor or retarder, according to whether the conveyer of this torni is installed as a power conveyer7 or a gravity conveye'r. For use as a gravity conveyor, it istilted up or down around the axles of the shaft 17, so the weight ot the conveyed articles cause the rollers to turn, while the retarding means limits the rate ot' traveling movement. Assuming that loaded boxes (for instance) are traveling on the upper series of rollers 3, in the direction of the upper arrow, the lower series ot' rollers 3a may be employed for returning the empty boxes in the direction et the lower arrows, and a diagonally' disposed plate (18a) will deflect the empty boxes from the conveyer. Guiding pulleys (19a) assist the pulley (16a) in holding and guiding the belt iii proper relation to the upper and lower series ot load-carrying rollers.

Figure 1 is typical of each form of the invention, in they respect that the belt is .mounted on rotary guiding and controlling wheels, pulleys, drums or the like, andi-is 'to travel along a path which is apmifely horizontal, that is, either horir neariy horizontal than vertical, not that the entire path is approximately horizontal, but that such approximately horizontal path is included in the entire path of travel of the belt and is under the path of travel of the articles being conveyed. Each form also includes a frame formed of sidebeams and cross-beams, the upper and lower rollers being journalled in bearings of said side-beams, that is, the bearings are either iii or secured to the side beams, either fixed or adjustable. Each form is contemplated in the general combination shown in Figure l.

Form B is a comparatively light and lowcost construction, suitable for conveying comparatively large, but light-weight articles; and it is conveniently adjusted from above. Forni C is useful for heavierfloads or where it is desired to make the adjustments from below. Form D is exceedingly convenient where the parts are subjected to the action of grit or other cause of wearing away of the axles, bearings, etc., requiring the easy and convenient removalv and replacement of such parts.

In Figure 9, the adjusting screw 14e is shorter than that of Figures 5 and 6, and the bearings 15ee is slightly different from the bearing 15d, having a cup in its lower side as a. seat for the adjusting spring 16e. The lower end of this spring is seated in a vertically adjustable seat'le. The spring 1Ge constitutes a yielding tensioner for the belt, and the screw 17e constitutes a manually operable means to vary or regulate the tension of the spring 16e.

These several forms of the invention do not by any means exhaust the inventive ideas and principles involved; so it is not intended to limit the invention to these Vforms; but I claim patent protection according to the broad principles as implied and claimed.

I claim the following:

1. A conveyer which includes a belt mounted to travel in a predetermined path, a series of load-carrying rollers journalled on stationary axes and in spaced relation to one another along a reach of said path for frictionally engaging the upper side of the belt', and a series of belt-supporting rollers journalled on stationary axes subjacent to said reach of the path for bearing against the under side or' the belt at points continually between the load-carrying rollers and thereby pressing the belt against the latter and causing the belt to coni'orin to an are of the respective load-carrying rollers.

2. The structure dened by claim 1, and means for raising the belt-supporting rollers and thereby increasing the pressure of the belt against the rollers of both of said series.

3. 'lhe structure defined by claim 1, each of said belt-supporting rollers being provided with means to raise it with relation te said path, for increasing pressure of the belt on the rollers, said meansy also being operable to effect the lowering of the respective belt-supporting rollers substantially as described.

4. The structure defined by claim 1, and

means to raise .the belt-supporting rollers toy different adjustments and to secure them in their respective adjusted positions, said means also being operable to effect the lowering of said belt-supporting rollers.

5. A conveyer which includes a belt mounted to travel in a predetermined path, a series of load-carrying rollers journalled in spaced relation to one another along a reach of said path for frictionally engaging the upper side of the belt, a series of beltsupporting rollers journalled` subjacent to said reach of the path for bearing against the under side of the belt at points between the load-carrying rollers and thereby pressing the belt against the latter, a second series of load-supporting rollers, and a second series of belt-supporting rollers, these additional series being under the said reach and respectively above and below a lower reach of said path and frictionally engageable with the said belt. Y

6. A conveyer which includes a belt mounted to travel in a predetermined path, a series of load-carrying rollers journalled in spaced relation to one another along a reach of said path for frictionally engaging the upper side of the belt, and a series of belt-supporting rollers journalled subjacent to said reach of the path :for bearing against the under side of the belt at points between the load-carryin rollers and thereby pressing the belt against the latter, each of said belt-supporting rollers being provided with means to effect its upward and downward adjustments independently of the other rollers, for relieving or increasing its frictional engagement with the belt, whereby different parts of the conveyer can be relieved 'from operation by the belt while other parts remain operatively engaged with the belt, thereby providing live-roller sections and ed-roller sections, substantially as speci- 7. The structure defined by claim 1, each end of each belt-supporting roller being provided with ineans for raising it independently of the other end, whereby these rollers can be adjusted to positions for training the belt towards one sideor the other of the conve er.

8. he structure defined by claim 1, each end of each belt-su porting roller being provided with means tor adjusting it independentlyof the other end in a direction substantially parallel with the said reach, whereby theserollers can be adjusted to positions for training the belt towards one side or the other of the conveyer.

9. A conveyer which includes a belt mounted to travel in e predetermined path, a series of load-carrying rollers journalled in spaced relation to one another along a, reach of said path for frictionally engag- 'ing the upper side of the belt, and L series of belt-supporting rollers journalled subjacent to said reach of the path for bearing against the under side of the belt 'at points between the load-carrying rollers and thereby pressing the belt against the latter, each l0 end of each roller of a group of the beltsupporting' rollers being journalled in a bearing'which is provided with means to adjust it both laterally' and longitudinally of the said path, for the purposes specified. l5

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

f PI-IINEAS H. YORK. 

